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Laxon’s
question stopped all movement and sideline
conversations.
    “But what if you choose one and she is not
interested in you? Or is unable to bear children?” Rykhan’s
questions drew the other male’s attention. “We need to discover as
much as we can about the females we pick. And as the first group on
this quest, it is up to us to learn as much as we are able in order
to educate those who come after us.”
    “Well said.” A nod acknowledged Bronsyn’s
praise. “It is important we learn as much as we can in this first
search to save the upcoming quests the effort.” He glanced round
the room. “We’ll meet here tomorrow at 0800. Be prepared to discuss
your findings. Until then, you are dismissed.”
    The room echoed with the sound of seven big men
as they stood and stepped to the exit even though none of them
spoke.
    Bronsyn was the last to leave and he wondered
if he needed to contact Gwynt to get a read on how the other
members on their home worlds took the news that the warriors had
chosen their landing point. However, he quickly decided if the
Committee had a problem with the outcome, they could initiate
contact.
    In the meantime, he had a subject to study, one
that he was already looking forward to researching.
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    Bronsyn’s tresl , the smaller communications
device that he carried with him at all times, pinged to signal an
incoming message. Tyshar’s shuttle was returning to the Searcher after the first
journey down to the blue planet and while the stalwart warrior had
only been gone one rota , Bronsyn was anxious to begin the debriefing.
    As evidenced by the other warriors who were
already in the observation room, he was not the only one. Talk was
minimal and each seemed wrapped in their thoughts as they awaited
Tyshar’s arrival. The commander took in the different postures of
his men, noting the tightened muscles and subtle nuances that gave
away the agitation each were trying to disguise.
    “At least he was able to return
undetected,” Rykhan muttered from his place by the observation
window. Bronsyn knew the warrior was only admitting aloud what had
been on everyone’s mind since Tyshar’s skid had left the Searcher’s flight deck a
little more than twenty-one heras before. Would any of the Earth’s
satellites register the small shuttle as it traveled through their
airspace?
    The much larger starship remained tucked into a
crater on the far side of the moon in order to stay hidden. All
communications were on a frequency not yet discovered by Earth’s
burgeoning technology. As far as Bronsyn could tell, the avoidance
tactics had worked in keeping their presence undetected by Earth’s
populace. Especially since Arbrynt had pointed out how the humans
of the planet reacted to what they considered ‘alien’. How even a
suspicion of differences—whether it was in religion, political
thought, or something as simple as skin color—could cause immediate
distress, hysteria and even war.
    ‘Barbaric,’ Bronsyn’s mind bellowed
and he caught himself shaking his head at his negative thoughts.
Now was not the time to be pessimistic, not when they had just
completed their first mission to the surface, especially into a
city the warriors had chosen to be their home for the next
six merts .
    He swung his head as he heard the door to the
observation deck slide open and watched as Tyshar strode in, his
hands weighted down with what appeared to be some kind of plastic
satchels.
    “Greetings, brothers,” the raven-haired warrior
called as he placed the full bags on the table. There was a
half-beat of stillness until the others of the group moved forward,
their questions filling the air even as their eyes scanned the
satchels. “Wait! One at a time, please!”
    Bronsyn had never heard Tyshar laugh in the
whole of the journey and to hear it then, when everyone’s emotions
and curiosity was so high, seemed inappropriate.
    “Perhaps we should just begin the
debriefing.”